Country Boy (6 page)

***

The next few days were tough. Kiki hadn’t eaten a thing since Omar’s death.

“Kiki, you have to eat something. Please don’t do this to yourself,” Tee told her.

“I can’t Tee. I just can’t.”

“You have to Kiki. Do it for Umar. He would go crazy knowing you lost so much weight.”

Kiki wasn’t the only one in deep mourning Q hadn’t been out in three days. He had only been out of bed to go back and forth to the bathroom. Van pampered him, but also let him have his space. She let him mourn the death of his friend in private.

The funeral was packed. The memorial was held at the local high school gym. “Why Tee, why did he have to die like that? What about the baby Tee? I’m three months pregnant.”

“What!!! You’re what Kiki?”

“I’m pregnant Tee.”

From then on Tee stuffed food down Kiki’s throat, telling her it was for the baby.

The only words Q had spoken to Van were “Go ahead to the funeral ma, I love you.” She understood. During the service you could hear murmurs throughout the crowd about none of The Crew being there. After the eulogy people started viewing the body. The whole building began to tremble as about thirty-five to forty bikes pulled up in front of the gymnasium. It was the whole crew on their Suzuki’s, along with some of the local guys paying their respects to their fallen comrade. Q was out front riding Umar’s Double R. As other family members filed out of the gym, they all entered to say goodbye to their homie.

Weeks went by and Q kept to himself. He wouldn’t work-out, didn’t answer his cell phone or pager. None of The Crew, or Tee, could reach him. Van stayed right by his side through it all. When he pushed her away she gave him space. When he needed her shoulder she was there. Finally when she felt his grief becoming life threatening she put her foot down.

“Q, I love you Boo. The day I close my eyes for the last time I will still be loving you. But I will not sit here and watch you die. Umar is gone, and God knows I miss and love him. But he would be ashamed if he saw you treating yourself like this. You’re not the only one hurting Q. What about the rest of The Crew? Have you even considered that they may be feeling like you? Do they have someone to mourn with, huh? Do they? What about Tee Q? Yeah, I always knew that you were gonna make sure she was alright. That’s because you have a pure heart. We’re not enemies

Q. We’re just in love with the same man. Check on the rest of your family. All of them. They need you, I need you. Kiki and Umar’s son need you.”

“Son?”

“Yeah, son. Kiki’s pregnant with your God-son,” she turned and went to their bedroom.

The way Van spoke of Tee made Q look at the woman he loved in a whole different light. They had been to blows over him. Always at one another’s throat. But in some of the hardest times she showed compassion for a woman that was deeply in love with her man. They had something most couples wished they had... Bulletproof Love. Leaving their couch he entered the bedroom. Gently he pulled the covers back not wanting to wake Van. He put his arms around her and closed his eyes.

“Welcome back baby,” Van said enjoying his touch. “It’s good to be back ma. I love you.” “I love you more.” With that said they went to sleep.

Murder Was the Case

The Block had been like a ghost town since Umar’s death. Everybody knew that The Crew’s revenge would be brutal. The police department had put what they called a command post on one end of The Block. The local newspaper reported that it was put there because of all the violence and drug activity being conducted. But, both of the crew’s contacts downtown said it was put there to stop the retaliation of The Crew. June and Tim had gone shell. No one could believe that Cam and Dirk had gone off code. They knew the rules. The Crew showed them nothing but love. Sometimes they wouldn’t even tax them on work. Now they had broken the rules of The Game. Betrayal was the lowest anyone could go. When you betray somebody you give up all rights. Automatically placing your whole family on death row.

“So Tim, how do we handle this?” June said reaching for the door handle.

Tim grabbed June’s arm, “Wait homie, something ain’t right.” Q had schooled Tim well when it came to putting in work and patience was a key.

“You see that old pickup truck over there?”

“Yeah.”

“Look at the tailpipe. It’s steaming. The lights in the house are off homie. We’ve been here for almost three hours. Our target is sitting right in front of the window like he’s trying to get noticed.”

“Yeah T, you right. It’s a set-up.”

“No doubt homie.”

“I wonder. Why would a mothafucka getting’ money sell himself short for a couple dollars?”

“Maybe it wasn’t about money June. Money causes a lot of different things playboy. Like jealousy, envy, malice, and hatred.”

“Well whichever one it is, it’s going to cost him his life.”

“Yeah, and everybody else, in that house.”

Slowly they crept pass the pickup truck, knowing they could be seen June and Tim stared right at the two officer’s watching Cam’s house. They wanted them to feel their presence.

When they told Q what happened, he was angry as hell. “You niggas did what? What the fuck were you two thinking about? Who do you think the cops gonna snatch up if this nigga comes up stinking’, huh?”

“Yeah, you’re right homie. We were acting on feelings.”

“You damn right you were acting nigga, but it wasn’t feelings. It was stupidity. There’s no way we can act now. None of us. Umar was my man too. Whoever killed him will pay with their life, but at the right time. What we have to do now, is let everything get back to normal. Then we will set all this shit straight.”

***

The Block was slowly coming back to life. The police department would only park a car at the command post trying to make people think they were patrolling. Shit, the junkies had become so comfortable with it there they would sit and smoke crack on the hood.

Within weeks Cam and Dirk grew tired of the surveillance on them. They were used to getting money. Both of them had ordered the department to take them off P.C. They would have been safe as long as they stayed out of sight.

Kiki was showing now. Q and Van spent as much time as possible with her. She had become close friends with Van. At first she was feeling awkward, because she and Tee were friends also.

“Kiki, what did the doctor say?” Van asked on the way out of the hospital.

“He said I have a clean bill of health.”

“Good, do you need anything else before we pick Q up?”

“Nah, we’re already late so we better be getting to the gym.”

“What took you two so long? I’ve been waiting for over an hour.”

“Sorry Boo, it’s my fault,” said Van. “We made a few extra stops.”

“You must have made a lot of extra stops,” he said kissing them both on the cheek. “Let’s get something to eat, I’m starving.”

They drove to a nearby food spot and settle in to eat. The way Q was treating KiKi, you would have thought, she was carrying his child. She didn’t know Q had already made up in his mind that, Umar’s son would be his son.

For My Homie

“Yo June, isn’t that that nigga Cam gettin’ out of that car?” said Tim.

“Bingo, that’s him.”

Cam was walking into the Huddle House Restaurant like he was King Kong.

“Turn this mothafucka around homie.” Tim yelled.

They parked at the Holiday Express Motel across the street. They walked to the restaurants parking lot and waited on Cam to come out. At the counter Cam turned and spotted them out the window. He spread his arms and made a gesture like ‘Not Here, Not Now’. June pulled back his coat and revealed his Mac. Tim yelled for him not to shoot but it was too late. Cam dove to the floor as the Mac-10 started spitting. June seemed to be in a trance. He walked behind his Mac10 like it was pulling him. Cam’s cry could be heard for miles as he tried to make his getaway. Boom!!! Boom ! ! ! Boom!!! Blak... Blak... Blak... Blak. Cam jumped out the window trying to make it to safety. Tim was waiting on him, the hammer cocked into position ready to fire.

“Who put you up to it nigga, who paid you?”

“Tim man, I swear I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“Who did then nigga?” He said pointing his Mini-14 directly at his chest.

“Please don’t shoot me man? It was this cat named Da Da and some nigga named Tex. The cat named Tex did all the shootin’. That’s all I know homie.”

“Today’s yo’ lucky day nigga. I’m a let you ...” Before Tim could finish June cut in.

“Yeah nigga, it is yo’ lucky day. Tell Umar I sent ya’.” Blak... Blak... Blak.

After Cam’s murder June was snatched up off The Block by detectives. He was the only one in The Crew who was known to carry a Mac-10. Luckily he was smart enough to hide his heat. They had picked up Twenty-seven Mac-10 shells at the crime scene. They charged him with murder anyway. No gun meant no concrete evidence.

“Hello, Honey’s Hair Sal ...” She was interrupted by the operator.

“You have a collect call from the Richmond County jail.”

After accepting the call Tee hung up and texted Q with her emergency code. He hit her right back.

“Q, meet me at the salon ASAP.”

“I’m on my way ma. You aiight?”

“Yeah, I will explain everything when you get here.”

Q sat in Tee’s office and listened to her explain June’s situation.

“Damn Tee, I told them two niggas to stay on tha low-low. The Crew would be the first ones the cops investigate if anything happened to those cowards.”

“He said they picked him up and charged him with murder. No weapon, no witnesses, nothing. The only thing he was told was that an informant said he carried a Mac-10.”

“If he calls back let him know my lawyer will be there in the morning.”

“Okay. He said they didn’t give him a bond.”

“Maybe Mr. Williams can get him one. Anyway, if they don’t got a weapon, they don’t got no case.” The office phone rang.

Ring, ring. “Hello, Honey’s Salon.”

“What’s up Tashonda, are you busy?”

“Oh hi Dre. Could you call me later? Q’s here.” Click.

“Well damn, bye to you too.” Dre thought to himself.

“Who was that ma?” said Q.

“That’s one of Terri’s friends I met at a hair show No Grease Salon in Charlotte was sponsoring.”

“So you’re seeing someone?” He said, unable to hide the jealousy in his voice.

“No Q, I’m not seeing anyone. He just kinda’ walked up and introduced himself to me.”

“Oh, so now you two are just kickin’ it huh?”

“We’re only friends Q. And before you start making those accusations that are in the back of your head let me clear them up for you. You were the last person I thought about before I went to bed last night. You were the first person I thought about when I woke up this morning. So think before you speak.”

Heated he blurted out, “Well who the fu... Never mind ma. I’m a just go.”

“Q,” she yelled as he walked toward the door. He stopped and faced her.

“You’re the last and only person who’s fuckin’ me Boo. I loved you then and I love you now. I don’t know how you’re going to keep two wives serviced, but don’t start lettin’ your clutch slip on me nigga. The only reason you’re insecure is because you haven’t turned me on my stomach lately. Don’t worry babe, this is yours.” Stepping around him she walked out of her office leaving him heated and defeated.

Later that evening bond was set at $500,000. June was out in four hours. He would have been out sooner, but the detectives hauled him back to the investigation room to question him about the murder that happened a few months earlier. He was ordered not to leave town while out on bail.

“Damn homie, what you tryin’ to do, get a life sentence? You killed that nigga right uptown, two blocks from the Courthouse.”

“I would’ve killed that nigga in tha courthouse. They murdered Umar in cold blood. To me he was just like the nigga who pulled the trigger... guilty, now sentenced to death.

Tim sat and told the rest of The Crew what Cam had said before he was killed.

“We should have killed both them niggas,” said Kev.

“Yeah you’re right Big Kev. If we had, then Umar would still be here with us. Now he’ll never get to see his son.”

Q though about Da Da and Tex. The Crew was right. He’d had two chances to have these nigga boys singing ‘This is for my homies”. He had let them live. And it cost his man his life. A painful pill to swallow.

Q spoke up. “Aiight everybody listen up. The holidays are almost here. You all know Baby Rasta’s gonna be closing for business until after the New Year. He’s already called me. I hope ya’ll got your ends straight. When I was buying he would give me twenty-five or more over what I bought.”

“We straight homie,” said Tim.

“Good, enjoy your families over the holidays. On the 2nd be ready to sit down and discuss dealing’ wit’ these two niggas.”

“I hear you homie,” said June, “and I have all the respect for you in the world. But if we catch them two bitches outta pocket, my Mac-10 and Tim’s’ Mini One will make fo’ sure Umar has some more company. This time it will be a package deal.”

“I feel you homies, but we’ve got to be thinkin’ on this shit.”

“Yeah you’re right Q, but it’s hard waking up every morning knowing I’ll never see Umar again. I feel like I’m lettin’ him down, allowing these cowards to walk the streets. What about his soon to be son Q? Those two niggas go home every night to their kid’s homie.”

As bad as Q hated to admit it, The Crew was right. If they don’t smash these two niggas soon, others would try and play their hand. It would definitely be a blood-bath.

Q gave the word. “Aiight Tim, if you catch Da Da or Tex outta pocket, put them hot boyz, on they ass.”

“Don’t worry homie, closed casket. Case closed.”

Betrayal

“Damn Da’, what time did you tell this nigga to meet you?”